In Part 1 we discussed the mechanism of impartation and how we can influence its effectiveness in our lives. In Part 2 we discussed what I call Impartation Math—understanding both how we can give to others without loss on our end, as well as how the seed of impartation can help us grow in spiritual power. In Part 3 we saw how the power of impartation can be used to pursue exponential growth in spiritual power. In this fourth and final installment of The Power of Impartation series we are going to look at the influence and interaction between the human spirit, the holy spirit, and how they are related to impartation—as well as how we can benefit from that understanding.
In Numbers 11 we see an interesting interaction between Moses and God. Moses is complaining that running the nation is too much work, so God gives him a very intriguing instruction. The passage says:
“The Lord said to Moses: ‘Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone” . . . . So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.” (Numbers 11:16-17, 24-26)
The fascinating thing about this scripture, to me, is that God recognized that something He had placed upon Moses had a few different qualities.
1) It helped Moses accomplish something (which in this instance was governing)
2) It could be shared and/or given to others
3) It is possible to share it with someone who isn’t physically present
4) The “it” being shared is actually part of the nature of God, not just an object
It is also of note that because the process of impartation is sharing an aspect or quality of the Holy Spirit, it means that the qualities of God can be split up. What I mean by that is that having the Holy Spirit means we have access to all aspects of His being, but it doesn’t mean that all aspects of His being are actively resident or at work within us. Furthermore, something about impartation causes those qualities to be shared, revealed, or otherwise manifested when they previously were not. The main difference between the Old and New Testament regarding this is that the Holy Spirit is now resident in all believers, but all of His qualities are still not made manifest, hence the value and benefit of impartation from one to another.
We see this again in another Old Testament passage, between Elijah and Elisha, except there is something unique about what that passage shows us that is relevant to understanding how impartation functions and how our human spirit is involved in the process. 2 Kings 2:9-10 says:
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’
‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.
‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah said, ‘yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.’”
Note here that Elisha didn’t ask for a double portion of the Holy Spirit that was upon Elijah, but a double portion of his spirit. Furthermore, Elijah didn’t tell him that was impossible, but outlined conditions under which Elisha’s request would be granted. Elisha seemed aware that what he was going to receive had a connection not just to the Spirit of God, but to Elijah’s spirit. In fact, we see Jesus reference this as well in Luke 1:17a, saying “he will go on before the LORD, in the spirit and power of Elijah . . .” Even Jesus recognized that it is possible to inherit something from another *person’s* spirit and not just from the Holy Spirit.
While I get that concept opens up a large can of worms (too large to cover here, and which I will be covering in the book I am now working on that will share the same title as this series—The Power of Impartation), it is important to understand there is a significant interchange between our human spirits and the Holy Spirit in impartation. There is an important principle that I see displayed in 1 Corinthians 14 that I think reveals the connection between the Holy Spirit and our human spirit. The passage is talking about tongues and prophecy, but pay attention to what it says about the human spirit:
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. . . . Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. (2 Corinthians 14:14-17, 29-32)
In this passage speaks about gifts of the Holy Spirit, but he keeps referring to people praying with their own spirits. How does that work? He explains in 1 Corinthians 14, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.” In other words, the Holy Spirit and the human spirit work together when one is praying in tongues. This is a perfect example of a situation where the Spirit of God comes upon our spirits and the connection of the two influences what happens next. We also see that Paul tells us the spirits of the prophets are subject to their own control, which means that our human spirits are not simply passively receiving whatever God is doing, but that we have the ability to control what our spirits are doing. Why is this important?
If we want to understand how impartation works, we have to grasp the concept that our human spirit is involved in a partnership with the Holy Spirit, but also that some aspects of the flavor of our own spirit get passed on when we impart to others—largely because our spirit is the vessel. If you will recall in Part 1 (https://www.thekingsofeden.com/2020/05/growing-in-spiritual-power-the-power-of-impartation-part-1/) I shared a story about a time I received prayer from Prophet Larry Randolph, and I could actually observe the “flavor” of the impartation in how I was prophesying over others shortly afterwards. In some way, impartation is not just a gift where we are giving an aspect of the Holy Spirit as a gift, but we are giving the gift of ourselves as well—and yet, because the Holy Spirit flows like a river through us, we don’t experience loss even as we give freely of Him and of ourselves to others. And isn’t pouring out our lives for others part of the example Jesus gave us? With impartation, we just give of ourselves in a different sort of way.
I am excited about the gift that impartation is to the Church, and while I understand I have shared just a few aspects of a larger subject, my hope is that it has given you, the reader, a greater understanding of the impact it can have in your own life, how it functions, why it even matters, and the connection both our spirits and the Holy Spirit have in this process. If you are interested in more on this subject, as I mentioned earlier I am now working on a more comprehensive book on the subject which will also share the name The Power of Impartation (the book is now finished–get it here!). If you want to be notified about it when it is in print, make sure to sign up for my email list below (if you haven’t already), and you will also receive a free e-book on how to engage the angelic realms as a thank you. Stay in touch and God bless you!
The Power of Impartation Series:
Part 1: Growing in Spiritual Power
Part 3: Pursuing Exponential Growth
Part 4: Impartation and the Human Spirit
The book The Power of Impartation is now available. Get your copy today!
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